What Has It Cost You? by Holly Dye

Besides this you know the time that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far-gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Rom. 13:11-14)

I refuse to think I am an isolated case. There is nothing special about me. I have no particular gifting that would set me apart from the rest of Christendom. However, a question continually comes to mind as I look across the church world, and that is, why don’t we see change in a person’s life when they are “born-again”?

When I was converted, I no longer desired to do the things I once did. No one had to tell me it was wrong, I just no longer desired it. It was the Holy Spirit living inside of me, convicting my heart, to stay true to Him and be holy. I didn’t want to drink. I didn’t want to watch occult movies. I didn’t want to listen to secular music (and some so-called Christian music). I didn’t want to cuss. I didn’t want to do anything that would dampen my relationship with Jesus or cause someone who was observing my life to fall. I’m not saying I was perfect and never messed up, but the desire had left me to habitually live in a manner that was worldly.

So many Christians today, spend all their efforts on trying to live as close to the edge as possible. They are like young children, who test their parent’s boundaries, thinking, “How far can I go before I will get in trouble?” This, they call Christian liberty.

To my utter shock, the new Christian genre of fiction book is vampires. Why? Because, they say, the movie, “Twilight,” resonated with many evangelicals because of the abstinence message. You can read the article here.

In response to this, someone said:

“What is next Christian horror? …Wait we have that.
What is next Christian death metal? … Wait we have that.
What is next Christian porn? … Wait we have that.
What is next Christian yoga? … Wait we have that.”

FOLKS! Come on!

Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers.Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness? Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever? Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.” (2 Cor. 6:14-17)

Because we have formed such inappropriate relationships with the world, it has clouded our discernment of good and evil. The world has preached its message to the church and the church has received it…hook, line and sinker. Why? Because, we don’t want to be rejected. We don’t want to be considered foolish or prudes. We don’t want people to say we are too holy or too righteous. We want to be liked and accepted. AT WHAT COST?! What is the price we are paying for this acceptance?!

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Matt. 5:13)

My goodness, people, it is as plain as day. How can we continue being salt and light if we live like there is no difference between them and us? “Well, we don’t want to offend anybody.” If we preach the cross of Christ, they will be offended. Why?

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God… God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. (1 Cor. 1:18, 21)

I think the church has spent too much of its time and energy trying to convince the world that we are cool, when actually, the world will always view us as foolish. As we carefully craft our services to prove our coolness, the world continues to watch and laugh, confirming what they have thought all along…we have nothing to offer them that they don’t already have. How sad and utterly shameful our witness has become.

I challenge all who read this, live your life in a way that can not be evil spoken of and do not use your Christian liberty as a provision for your flesh.

Tamar weeps

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